Laporte poly-tuff cable rigged trees

[fjjensen]

Would like some opinions on Laporte poly-tuff cable rigged trees.

Thanks!

FJ

[bruce johnson]

FJ,

They are pretty OK guys to hang out with. I have not used one of their trees. I talked to one guy who did, and he thought they were alright. Not sure if they hold nails very well, but he felt the screws got a good bite. The material is supposed to be lightyears ahead of the comparable Ralide material. THey have been around maybe 5-6 years now? The issue with any of the molded trees is you get what they have in their mold. You can't get a different bar pattern, a little here or there, or anything else like with even the options of most production wood/rawhide trees. Some of the guys back in that area that have built on them may have some other thoughts.

Cable rigging isn't a new concept. Hamley's tried it a few generations ago. If it was so great, we would all still be doing it today. My thoughts on it are a few. We strive, make gauges, tie strings, measure, remeasure, and laser to make sure our rigging rings are equal front to back so our tree doesn't twist. I can't believe that a latigo sliding on a cable will seek the same equal position on both sides every time. Not only that, what prevents it from settling at the 3/4 position one time, and the next time at 5/8 of full. Blake has talked about different pressure mappings with the same saddle just changing rigging positions on the same horse. If my horse humps up one morning, or is standing downhill in his dugout hole next the the tie-post, it may settle differently. The smaller diameter of the cable is harder on the fold on latigos that a thicker ring or dee.

Finally a little philosophy. I think if I am handmaking a product, my gut level tells me that as much of it should be as handmade as possible. I am not saying we need to tan our leather or make our own trees, but I want to have a tree that someone touched. I don't even have to know them. I just want to know that a person nailed and screwed it together, the rawhide was laced on by hand, and a part of them is in my work. I want to know that someone engraved the silver, it wasn't stamped. What I do inbetween those two things then falls on me to not mess it up. Wow, maybe I have been watching the bootmakers too long.

[fjjensen]

Bruce

Thanks for your input. I hear you on the handmade quality

part.That is why I bought a Harwood saddle when I was ready

to make the jump from store bought rigs.

Was thinking more on the lines of making up a lightweight

outfit to start colts in.Easy to throw on and built to be used

a bit harder than my regular rig.The Hamley information is

interesting.The more things change the more they stay the

same.

Thanks again for your reply.It answers my question.

Frank

[mulefool]

I have a friend who has one just kind of skeleton rigged. Just some fenders pretty much. I borrowed it for a few days to try it out. I rode it on a big wide gelding, I really liked the close contact, no bulk and I liked the shape of the seat. Of course like I said there was really no leather on it save for the fenders, so of course it was less bulk. So I thought maybe it might be a nice tree to make up a lightweight saddle for trail riding. I could keep the price down since there's no labor in the ground seat, which I would normally spend alot of time on, or the rigging. So I got me a tree probably 3 years ago now, but I've been so darn busy with actual orders I haven't finished it yet. I probably wouldn't use it for a regular custom saddle, I'd get a handmade wood tree, but I think it has a place and worlds above a Ralide tree, which I would never use.

[fjjensen]

Thanks for your information Mule.

FJ

[Chi Stockyrd Saddle Tree]

I see that there is some confusion here about cable riggings and composite trees. Everybody does somethings different than everyone else. But here's what I do and do know.

The Double H Cable Rigging™ has two ways that the latigo is locked into place. One: the 1/4" lock collar that goes in a wear leather under the latigo. This is not much smaller than any piece of leather that normal rigging are made of and the latigo would have to go around. Two: a billet system that creates a compound curve in the cable using an adjustable strap of nylon webbing and a buckle that acts as a backer to the latigo. Both systems limit bulk under the jockey's and legs.

I make a urethane saddle tree. Sure it's molded, but I made those molds by hand. I know the shapes work. I make the materials too, like a cook with a very accurate recipe. And when the saddle trees come out of the molds; I shape those to the all possible shapes for all horses and their backs, BY HAND. The bars are a standard 22". How much longer do they need to be? The material is strong. Used for ballistics shields. If it couldn't take a bullet and keep it, I don't use it. That means the screws, nails and tacks, stay. And they'll stay forever. They won't walk out like the nails in older saddle trees.

Hamley made the cable rigging back in 1918 and used it till 1924. The cable was wire an inch thick, of braided wire that would rust. Fencing wire basically. The technology wasn't up to the task. It took the industry this long to see a great idea come back. It was a good idea then. Now, it's just better. They weren't the only ones to use it either. Go to the King's Saddlery in Sheridan WY. Go upstairs in the back of the room this year, ( since they rotate their collection) there were two other companies saddles there that had cable rigging. From the same years.

Edited October 19, 2010 by Chi Stockyrd Saddle Tree

[rickybobby]

I see that there is some confusion here about cable riggings and composite trees. Everybody does somethings different than everyone else. But here's what I do and do know.

The Double H Cable Rigging™ has two ways that the latigo is locked into place. One: the 1/4" lock collar that goes in a wear leather under the latigo. This is not much smaller than any piece of leather that normal rigging are made of and the latigo would have to go around. Two: a billet system that creates a compound curve in the cable using an adjustable strap of nylon webbing and a buckle that acts as a backer to the latigo. Both systems limit bulk under the jockey's and legs.

I make a urethane saddle tree. Sure it's molded, but I made those molds by hand. I know the shapes work. I make the materials too, like a cook with a very accurate recipe. And when the saddle trees come out of the molds; I shape those to the all possible shapes for all horses and their backs, BY HAND. The bars are a standard 22". How much longer do they need to be? The material is strong. Used for ballistics shields. If it couldn't take a bullet and keep it, I don't use it. That means the screws, nails and tacks, stay. And they'll stay forever. They won't walk out like the nails in older saddle trees.

Hamley made the cable rigging back in 1918 and used it till 1924. The cable was wire an inch thick, of braided wire that would rust. Fencing wire basically. The technology wasn't up to the task. It took the industry this long to see a great idea come back. It was a good idea then. Now, it's just better. They weren't the only ones to use it either. Go to the King's Saddlery in Sheridan WY. Go upstairs in the back of the room this year, ( since they rotate their collection) there were two other companies saddles there that had cable rigging. From the same years.

I have not seen the cable rig system, I have heard of them though. I would like to see a full set of photos of your trees and a tutorial of how the cable system works. It sounds like a great system and you may have an easier time explaining how it works and it's adjustment abilities. If there were some pictures of the construction methods we would perform if using one of your systems it may clear up or inspire its benefits and strengths.

[Chi Stockyrd Saddle Tree]

Sure. Here's a pic of the Billet System and the Lock Collar. The Collar is adjusted using and hex head and the Billet is adjusted by the buckle sitting under the latigo hanger. In both, the latigo rests on the wear leather. The wear leather acts as a grip for the latigo and protects the plastic from rubbing down to the wire. We've had saddle makers decide just to let the rigging "free swing". Gravity will bring the latigo to the lowest point. When cinched the latigo never moves from this spot. Water can't run upstream. The latigo can't move up on the cable. It's always in the same spot. Gavity in this case is actually the pull of the cinch. the horses ribs are a barrel and the cinch pulling around it will always find the smallest part of the rib cage. Therefor, the cinch pulls from the same place on the horse being ridden and the latigo "falls" to the same point; no matter what ground the horse is on.

Edited October 19, 2010 by Chi Stockyrd Saddle Tree

[Hda]

Who sells these Laporte trees, do they have a website or any contact info.

I like to try to build on one with cablerigging.

//David

[dbusarow]

Who sells these Laporte trees, do they have a website or any contact info.

I like to try to build on one with cablerigging.

Poke around on the Double H site. Look under Saddles then Tree Styles. Looks like you need to call for pricing and ordering.

Or look at Chi Stockyrd Saddle Tree's site.

I know nothing about them other than I've been lookiing myself.

Dan

[Hda]

ok, thank´s

The Double H link didn´t work.

I found this company http://www.hitchingpostsupply.com/group.asp?grp=507 seems like they are selling the laporte tree.

Sombody know someone that builds on them?

//David

[Goldshot Ron]

Try: www.dhrss.com There phone no. is 970-482-6229 in Ft. Collins, CO. Owner is Mark Howes. His son makes the trees.

[Chi Stockyrd Saddle Tree]

I try to keep up with these posts. Here's the link to Double H Ranch Saddle Shop. + number 1-970-482-6229. You want to ask for Mark or Heath for the trees

http://www.dhrss.com

The link to Chicago Stockyard Saddle Tree + number 1-312-515-0594 and ask for Heath

http://www.literidetree.com/home.html

Shawn of Laporte Saddle Tree, has the number 1-970-227-8011

Hope It helps